THOMAS JEFFERSONOur 3rd President

BACKGROUND INFORMATION1. Served on the 2nd Continental Congress

2. Wrote the Declaration of Independence

3. Governor of Virginia during the Revolution

4. Washington’s Secretary of State

5. Adam’s Vice President

PRESIDENCYElection of 1800:

Jefferson tied with Aaron Burr for president (both Democratic-Republicans)

House of Representatives voted to break the tie and Jefferson won!

President Vice President

Who? Thomas Jefferson

Aaron Burr

Party? Demo-Rep Demo-Rep

PRESIDENCY12th Amendment: Requires the voters to vote for president and vice-president on the same ticket

Jefferson’s presidency shifted the power in government away from the Federalists to the Democratic Republicans

DOMESTIC POLICY Jefferson changed many Federalists policies:

Federalists Policy Change under Jefferson

Government too large “laissez faire” – government would “leave alone” economic affairs

Whiskey Tax (Washington’s Presidency)

Asked congress to repeal (cancel)

Naturalization Act Asked congress to make it easier to become a citizen

Sedition Act Stopped prosecuting people and asked Congress to repeal (cancel)

DOMESTIC POLICY The story of the Louisiana Purchase:

• Pickney’s Treaty was no longer in effect because Spain had given that territory to France

Pickney’s Treaty?

• However, Americans needed the use of the Mississippi River and New Orleans for trading purposes

America needs New Orleans

• President Jefferson send James Monroe to France to see if the U.S. could buy New Orleans for $10 million

Monroe goes to France

• Surprisingly, France offered all of the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. for $15 million and Monroe agreed on April 30, 1803

U.S. gets Louisiana Territory

• Purchase doubled the size of the country for a VERY cheap price (3 cents an acre)

Effect

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FOREIGN POLICY Jefferson tried to keep America neutral as Britain and France were still

at war; however this was becoming more difficult

Britain and France were still at war,

and Jefferson tried to keep

America neutral;

however this was

becoming more difficult

Impressment: British Navy

were attacking American

trade ships and forcing our people into their military.

Jefferson created an

Embargo Act (ban on

trade with all other

nations)

Made Americans

angry because it hurt their economy

Jefferson created the

Non intercourse

act – banned trade with France and

Britain ONLY

b/c… so… but… so…

Impressment: Forcing people into service, as in the

Navy

LEGACYLike Washington, he did not run for a 3rd termLouisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S.Lewis and Clark Expedition led to knowledge of the Louisiana Territory

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